Face mask carrying system

ABSTRACT

A convenient face mask or personal protective equipment carrying system that not only provides an easy access of the mask itself to the user but also enables the carrying system to be part of an accessory for a user. In one embodiment, the carrying system includes a holder, which may be in a form of a bracelet, a necklace, a hair tie, a necktie clip, a purse clip, etc. In another embodiment, the holder may include an anchor for receiving the elastic bands of the face mask. In another embodiment, the face mask is in a folded state or in a state where the surface area of the face mask is reduced to engage the anchor. In an alternative embodiment where the face mask does not have an elastic band, the holder further may include an elastic band to hold the face mask in a folded state by the anchor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Aspect of the invention generally relate to the field of convenient carrying face masks.

BACKGROUND

Face masks are used in various settings, such as in hospitals or areas where harmful but tiny particles are easily transported via air. While there are different types and grades of face masks, some of them are one-time use or disposable ones while other reusable.

During a pandemic, face masks are helpful in avoiding and lessening the spread of a highly contagious disease, such as SARS and COVID-19. As a result, having a face mask handy and ready to use becomes essential. When one wears such a mask and needs to remove it for a continuous period, such as dining, it becomes an issue for a proper place to temporarily place it.

One existing approach is to place the mask in an envelope. However, given the size of the envelope, it is easy to forget to bring such envelope. Another approach is to place the mask between two issue papers as a sandwich on a table. However, the tissue papers along with the mask can easily fall from the table. Stains and water may also easily get on the tissue papers.

Therefore, no convenient and clever solutions exist to easily hold and carry face masks.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the invention provide a convenient face mask carrying system that not only provides an easy access of the mask itself to the user but also enables the carrying system to be part of an accessory for a user. In one embodiment, the carrying system includes a holder, which may be in a form of a bracelet, a necklace, a hair tie, a necktie clip, a purse clip, etc. In another embodiment, the holder may include an anchor for receiving the elastic bands of the face mask. In another embodiment, the face mask is in a folded state or in a state where the surface area of the face mask is reduced to engage the anchor. In an alternative embodiment where the face mask does not have an elastic band, the holder further may include an elastic band to hold the face mask in a folded state by the anchor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity so not all connections and options have been shown. For example, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment may often not be depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure. It may be further appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art may understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It may also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein may be defined with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a face mask carrying system according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 2A to 2G are illustrations of a face mask carrying system according to an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a face mask carrying system according to yet another embodiment.

FIGS. 4A to 4G are illustrations of a face mask carrying system according to yet an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments may now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments which may be practiced. These illustrations and exemplary embodiments may be presented with the understanding that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of one or more embodiments and may not be intended to limit any one of the embodiments illustrated. Embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure may be thorough and complete, and may fully convey the scope of embodiments to those skilled in the art. Among other things, the present invention may be embodied as methods, systems, apparatuses, or devices. The following detailed description may, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an illustration of a face mask carrying system 100 according to one embodiment. In one example, the face mask carrying system 100 may include a holder 102. For example, the holder 102 may be in a form of a loop with various elements connected together. For example, the holder 102 may include the elements such as beads, pearls, links, etc. In another example, the holder 102 may be a bracelet, a necklace, a clip, or a ring. In yet another embodiment, the holder 102 may be made of various materials, such as fabric, plastic, rubber, or metal. It is to be understood that other materials may be used without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In another embodiment, the holder 102 may include an anchor 104. In one embodiment, the anchor 104 may be a bead, a pearl, a ball, or the like. In another embodiment, the anchor 104 may be securely connected with the holder 102. In one example, the anchor 104 may be in a size larger than the remaining elements of the holder 102. In another embodiment, the holder 102 may include two anchors 104. In another embodiment, the anchor 104 may be disposed separately from the remaining elements of the holder 102. For example, as seen in FIG. 2A, in one embodiment, the anchor 104 may be disposed between elements of the holder 102. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the anchor 202 may be disposed behind an element 212 and between elements 210, 212 and 214. In another embodiment, the anchor 204 may be disposed on elements 216 and 218 of the holder 208. Please also see FIGS. 2B through 2G for additional views of the holder 208.

In one embodiment, the anchor 104 may be magnetic. In yet another embodiment, the anchor 104 may be metallic so that if the holder 102 may have another element, such as a loop 206, which may be magnetic, to hold the face mask 106 in place.

In another embodiment, the anchor 104 may be replaceable. For example, the holder 102 may include a base (not shown) that connects to the anchor 104. The anchor 104 may be connected to the base via various means. For example, the base may include a screw and the anchor 104 may have a bore and grooves to meet with the screw so that the anchor 104 may be attached to the holder 102. With such replaceable feature, the anchor 104 may be exchanged depending on styles, etc.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the anchor 104 of the face mask carrying system 100 may further secure or assist to secure a face mask 106. In one embodiment, the face mask 106 may be in a folded state. In one example, the folded state may include different shapes. For example, the folded state of the face mask 106 may be in a shape of a bow. In another example, the folded state of the face mask 106 may be in a shape of a fan. Therefore, it is to be understood that other shapes of the folded state may be formed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

For example, the face mask 106 may be a medical grade surgical mask, a fabric-based mask, or the like. In another embodiment, the face mask 106 may further include a set of elastic bands or ear loops 108. By having one of the elastic bands 108 wound up with the face mask 106 in the folded state, the elastic bands 108 may secure on the holder 102 by securely engaging the anchor 104. With such an engagement, the face mask 106 is securely attached to the holder 102.

In another embodiment, the user may remove the face mask 106 from the holder 102 easily by releasing the one of the elastic bands 108 from the anchor 104.

In another embodiment, suppose the face mask 106 does not include a set of elastic bands. In such an embodiment, referring now to FIG. 2A, the face mask carrying system 200 may include a loop 206, such as a separate elastic band, to engage such type of face mask.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in another embodiment, a face mask carrying system 300 may be in a form of a hair tie 304. In such an embodiment, the hair tie 304 may include an anchor 302. Similar to the face mask carrying systems 100 and 200, the anchor 302 may securely engage an elastic band of a folded face mask 306.

In another embodiment, a face mask carrying system 400 may include two anchors 404 and 406 one a holder 402. In such an embodiment, the anchor 406 may include an elastic band 408 to securely engage a face mask that does not have an elastic band. FIGS. 4B to 4G further illustrate different views of the face mask carrying system 400.

In yet another embodiment, the anchor (e.g., 404, 406, 302, 202, 204, and 104) may be a magnet or have a magnetic power. In yet another embodiment, the anchor may be a button. In a further embodiment, the anchor may be a buckle system that may securely engage the face mask.

In an alternative embodiment, instead of having the holder 102, which may be secured to a wrist of a user, or the holder 304, which may be secured to a user's hair, the face mask carrying system may secure to a belt, a strap of a purse or a bag.

In yet another embodiment, where the holder 102 may be a clip. In such an embodiment, the holder 102 may be attached to a belt loop and the anchor 104 may securely attach the face mask 106.

In yet another embodiment, the embodiment where the holder 208 may include the loop 206, the user may secure more than just a face mask. For example, instead of a face mask in a folded state, the user may use the face mask carrying system to secure a pair of gloves, a bouffant cap, or the like.

The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive. Many variations of embodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure. The scope embodiments should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claims along with their full scope or equivalents.

One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments. A recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more” unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Recitation of “and/or” is intended to represent the most inclusive sense of the term unless specifically indicated to the contrary.

While the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms, the drawings and discussion are presented with the understanding that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of one or more inventions and is not intended to limit any one embodiments to the embodiments illustrated.

Further advantages and modifications of the above described system and method may readily occur to those skilled in the art.

The disclosure, in its broader aspects, is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative system, and illustrative examples shown and described above. Various modifications and variations may be made to the above specification without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure, and it is intended that the present disclosure covers all such modifications and variations provided they come within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A face mask carrying system comprising: a holder comprising an anchor engaged therewith, wherein the anchor is disposed on an outward surface of the holder; and a face mask in a folded state, wherein the face mask comprises a set of bands, wherein one of the set of bands securely engages the face mask to the anchor.
 2. The face mask carrying system of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a bracelet, a necklace, a ring, or a clip.
 3. The face mask carrying system comprising: a holder comprising an anchor engaged therewith, wherein the anchor is disposed on an outward surface of the holder; an elastic band disposed on the holder; and a face mask in a folded state, wherein the elastic band wraps around the face mask and secures the face mask by looping the elastic band over the anchor.
 4. The face mask carrying system of claim 3, wherein the holder comprises a bracelet, a necklace, a ring, or a clip.
 5. The face mask carrying system comprising: a holder comprising a loop; an anchor base for engaging an anchor, wherein the anchor base is disposed on an outer surface of the loop; an elastic band disposed on the holder; and a face mask in a folded state, wherein the elastic band wraps around the face mask and secures the face mask by looping the elastic band over the anchor.
 6. The face mask carrying system of claim 5, wherein the anchor is removably attached to the anchor base.
 7. The face mask carrying system comprising: a holder comprising a loop; an anchor base for engaging an anchor, wherein the anchor base is disposed on an outer surface of the loop; and a face mask in a folded state, wherein the face mask comprises a set of bands, wherein one of the set of bands securely engages the face mask to the anchor.
 8. The face mask carrying system of claim 7, wherein the anchor is removably attached to the anchor base.
 9. A personal protective equipment carrying system comprising: a holder comprising an anchor engaged therewith, wherein the anchor is disposed on an outward surface of the holder; an elastic band disposed on the holder; and a personal protective equipment in a folded state, wherein the elastic band wraps around the personal protective equipment and secures the personal protective equipment by looping the elastic band over the anchor.
 10. A personal protective equipment carrying system comprising: a holder comprising an anchor engaged therewith, wherein the anchor is disposed on an outward surface of the holder; a band disposed on the holder; and a personal protective equipment in a folded state, wherein the band engages the personal protective equipment and secures the personal protective equipment to the anchor. 